This SC chef just appeared on the Food Network show ‘Chopped.’ Here’s how he did

When Greer chef Michael Sibert earned a spot on Food Network’s “Guys Grocery Games” in 2023, he wondered what other shows he could be on.

“Chopped” perhaps or “Hell’s Kitchen.”

Consider it done.

Sibert, who owns White Wine & Butter restaurant with his wife Samantha Aupied, appeared on an episode of “Chopped” Tuesday.

The show features four chefs who begin by cooking an appetizer, one gets chopped, three make entrees, another chopped and down to two for the dessert round.

Each faces an almost impossible basket of food with which to make a plate.

For the appetizer round, they had crab rangoon pizza, mizuna lettuce, salmon filets and, remarkably, cherry drink mix.

Twenty minutes.

Sibert came up with salmon and crab cakes with a salad.

He told the judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Jet Tila and host Ted Allen he wanted to win the $10,000 purse to help people in the Carolinas who had been hurt by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“It’s been a tough road,” he said.

He also said he wanted to honor Greer and his family, which now includes a son.

Sibert went through easily even though his crab cake was a bit dry.

Next up an entree with deep fried spaghetti, mustard greens, teres major (a kind of steak) and coconut yogurt.

The other chefs had cooked teres major before — one even serves it in his Montana restaurant — but Sibert had not. He also cast aside an apparent no-no for “Chopped” and made risotto.

“You ran a million red lights.” Guarnaschelli said.

Another round done.

So it’s Silbert and Venezuelan born chef Soleil Ramirez of Minnesota done to the wire.

Dessert. Sandia loco (crazy watermelon), blackberries, frozen buttermilk pancakes, chocolate covered coffee beans.

30 minutes.

Sibert drew on the lessons watching his grandmother cook and made a dessert taco with cheesecake — his favorite.

Sibert seemed the picture of calm throughout.

Perhaps because he has worked as a private chef all over the United States and once made the salad course — Hearts of Palm — for President Barack Obama during a stop in Greenville.

A Greenwood native, Sibert attended the Culinary Institute of the Carolinas at Greenville Technical College and in the continuing education program for food and beverage at Cornell University.

His initial restaurant was in downtown Greer and now is located at the Greer Country Club.

When it came down to reveal who was the last chef chopped, Sibert stood with his eyes closed. Then he saw it was not his dish.

He won. He says he wants to give most of the money to hurricane relief.

“Carolina pride,” he said. “I really needed this.”

This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "This SC chef just appeared on the Food Network show ‘Chopped.’ Here’s how he did."